01967nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119300001300188490000800201520146600209653000901675100001901684700001701703856010101720 1992 eng d00aEffects of fire on tree spatial patterns in a tallgrass prairie landscape0 aEffects of fire on tree spatial patterns in a tallgrass prairie a300 -3070 v1193 a
Spatial patterns of trees invading a tallgrass prairie in NE Kansas, USA were examined using a Geographical Information System. Without burning and with adequate moisture levels, the number of trees increased over a five year period by over 60%, while in an area burned annually the number of trees decreased. Under a variety of burning regimes, Juniperus virginiana and Celtis occidentalis were significantly more uniform in their distribution pattern than Populus deltoides and Gleditsia triacanthos. In addition, three tree species (G. triacanthos, J. virginiana and U. americana) had a significant increase in the degree of aggregation with increasing tree height, while C. occidentalis showed no relationship between aggregation and tree height. There were significant associations between adult and juvenile trees at various scales, with bird dispersed J. virginiana having a higher critical distance (39 m) than wind dispersed G. triacanthos and U. americana. The spatial pattern of tree species appears to be affected by the means of dispersion; trees with wind-dispersed seeds had clumped distributions, whereas most trees with bird-dispersed seeds were regular to random in their dispersion patterns. The spatial pattern of trees invading tallgrass prairie is a function of the burning regime, dispersal vectors, habitat availability, and reproductive mode. Key words: tallgrass prairie, spatial patterns, trees, Geographical Information System
10aWind1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aGibson, D.J. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-fire-tree-spatial-patterns-tallgrass-prairie-landscape